Chapter 4 The Choices We Make

Aria stood at the edge of the balcony, staring out over the city that sprawled below like a patchwork of lights and shadows. The night sky above was clear, the stars almost mocking her with their stillness, their certainty. Here, in this moment, everything seemed so far away from the chaos of the world she was being pulled into. She wished she could just close her eyes and make everything disappear-the prophecy, the moonborn powers, the weight of Dominic's expectations.

But it was impossible to turn away now. Everything had changed.

Her thoughts kept spiraling back to the conversation she'd had with Dominic earlier. There was no denying that what he'd said made sense, in some twisted way. The prophecy, the rebellion, the power that coursed through her veins-it all tied together in a way that felt too big, too monumental for someone like her.

The truth was, she didn't want this. She didn't want to be the center of some ancient prophecy or the key to a war that could destroy everything she knew. She'd grown up fighting for her survival, clawing her way through each foster home, never staying in one place long enough to call it home. Now, it seemed as if fate had come knocking, dragging her into a battle that was far beyond her control.

A soft sound behind her pulled her out of her thoughts, and she turned to find Dominic standing in the doorway of the suite, his silhouette framed by the soft light of the room. His eyes, intense as ever, searched her face, though his expression remained unreadable.

"Are you alright?" His voice was low, almost gentle, but there was an undercurrent of something deeper-something she couldn't quite place.

Aria didn't answer right away. She didn't know if she was alright. How could she be? Everything felt like it was spinning out of control, like the world she knew was slipping through her fingers.

Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I can do this."

Dominic took a step closer, his gaze never leaving her. "You don't have to decide everything tonight," he said, his tone patient, yet firm. "But you do have to decide eventually. This isn't something you can run from, Aria. Your place in this world, in this war-it's already been written. The only question now is how you're going to step into it."

She clenched her fists at her sides, the reality of his words sinking in like a stone in her chest. "What if I don't want to step into it?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly. "What if I don't want to be a part of this war? I didn't ask for any of this."

"I know you didn't." Dominic's voice softened, and he took another step forward, closing the distance between them. He was close now, so close that she could feel the heat of his body, the weight of his presence. "But sometimes, the things we're born to do don't give us a choice. Sometimes, the world decides for us."

His words echoed in her mind, stirring something inside her that she didn't want to acknowledge. It was a truth that ran deeper than anything she could understand in this moment, but it was there, undeniable and persistent.

She stepped back, needing space. "I'm not like you. I'm not like the others in this world. I've spent my life trying to survive, not fight for a cause I don't even understand." Her breath caught in her throat, and she tried to steady herself, but the weight of it all pressed down on her chest like a vise.

Dominic didn't speak right away. Instead, he took a slow, deliberate step back, his expression thoughtful. Then, after a long pause, he spoke, his voice quieter than before.

"I know you didn't ask for this, Aria. I know you didn't ask to be caught in the middle of a war that's been brewing for centuries." He paused, his gaze softening as he looked at her, almost as if he saw something in her that she couldn't see in herself. "But you're not alone. You don't have to face this alone. I'm here, and I'll stand by you. Whatever you decide, I'll be there."

Aria's heart beat painfully in her chest at the sincerity in his voice. The idea of not being alone was a foreign concept to her. For most of her life, she'd been on her own, drifting from place to place, learning to trust only herself. The thought of someone standing by her, someone willing to fight for her, was terrifying and comforting all at once.

She swallowed hard, trying to steady the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. "And if I don't choose the way you want me to?" she asked, the words slipping out before she could stop them. "What happens then?"

Dominic's eyes darkened, and the air between them shifted, charged with an intensity she couldn't ignore. "If you don't choose the way I want you to, then you choose your own path. But know this-you can't escape what's coming. There are forces at work that neither of us can control. Your destiny is tied to this fight, whether you embrace it or not. And if you turn away, if you run... you'll be putting yourself in danger."

Aria's stomach twisted at his words. The idea of danger, of being hunted, was something she had lived with all her life. But this was different. This wasn't some stray threat from an unstable foster parent or a random act of violence. This was something far bigger, far more dangerous.

For the first time, Aria wondered if she even had the strength to make a choice at all. What if she was too weak? Too afraid to confront what awaited her?

Before she could speak, Dominic reached out and gently grasped her wrist, his touch sending a jolt through her. "You're stronger than you know," he said, his voice low and steady. "And if you choose to fight, I'll be here to help you. But you need to decide. You need to choose who you want to be in this war."

Aria looked down at his hand on her wrist, his fingers firm yet not forceful. She felt the weight of his words settle on her, each syllable sinking deeper into her mind, into her heart. Could she really fight? Could she embrace this strange, terrifying destiny?

Her heart hammered in her chest, her thoughts a chaotic whirl of fear and uncertainty. She had always believed in fate, in destiny. But now, standing on the edge of this new world, she felt like she was standing at the precipice of something far darker than anything she had ever imagined.

She pulled her wrist free from his grip, her mind a storm of conflicting emotions. She didn't have an answer. Not yet. But one thing was clear-there was no going back.

"I'll think about it," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I need time."

Dominic nodded slowly, his gaze softening once more. "Take all the time you need, Aria. But remember, time is something we don't have much of. The war is coming, and when it does, we all have to choose a side."

As he turned and walked away, Aria stood there, her heart pounding in her chest, the weight of her decision pressing down on her like an iron door. The future was uncertain, and she had no idea what path she would choose. But one thing was undeniable-her life was no longer her own.

And whatever choice she made, it would change everything.